Petunia plant named ‘BBTUN91601’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  plant named ‘BBTUN91601’, characterized by its compact, outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; white and red purple bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BBTUN91601’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BBTUN91601’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and uniformly mounding Petunia plants with early and freely flowering habit, unique attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Nov. 23, 2014 in Bonsall, Calif. of a proprietary seedling selection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number 14PB201-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number 14PB202-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. on Nov. 2, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bonsall, Calif. since Nov. 2, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BBTUN91601’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BBTUN91601’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Compact, outwardly spreading and mounding to eventually         trailing plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. White and red purple bi-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have pink and light purple bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely branching than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have magenta and light pink bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of ‘Kakegawa S36’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,037. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘Kakegawa S36’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more mounding than and not as         trailing as plants of ‘Kakegawa S36’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Kakegawa S36’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Kakegawa S36’ have solid magenta-colored         flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia are less susceptible to pathogens         common to Petunia plants than plants of ‘Kakegawa S36’.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of ‘KL 1117’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,485. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of ‘KL 1117’ in flower color as plants of ‘KL 1117’ have white-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBTUN91601’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BBTUN91601’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the early spring in 11.5-cm containers in an acrylic-covered greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 27° C. Plants were seven weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘BBTUN91601’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Petunia X hybrida identified as code number 14PB201-01, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Petunia X hybrida identified as code number 14PB202-01, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three to four days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five to seven days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About four weeks at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, outwardly spreading and             mounding to eventually trailing plant habit; freely             branching habit with about eight primary lateral branches             with three to four secondary lateral branches per primary             lateral branch developing; dense and bushy appearance;             pinching enhances development of lateral branches; vigorous             growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 10             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 13             cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 35 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 19 cm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong.             Aspect: Initially upright then outwardly spreading. Texture             and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color, developing: Close to             146C. Color, developed: Close to 146B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate before flowering; opposite after             flowers develop; leaves simple.         -   Length.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical, rounded.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Minute             pubescence; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A;             venation, close to 147B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 147B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Minute pubescence; matte. Color, upper             surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary salverform             flowers; flowers face mostly upward to outwardly; freely             flowering habit with about more than 155 flowers developing             per plant during the flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long day responsive; long             flowering period, plants flower from early spring until             frost in the autumn, flowering continuous during this             period; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering about             six weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About four to five days;             flowers persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.3 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Oblong, elongate. Texture and luster: Pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 157A to 157B.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4 cm by 4.4 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 4 cm.         -   Throat diameter, distal.—About 1.1 cm.         -   Tube length.—About 3 cm.         -   Tube diameter.—About 8 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals fused in a             single salverform whorl. Petal lobe length (from throat):             About 1.9 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.2 cm. Petal lobe             shape: Fan-shaped. Petal lobe apex: Broadly acute. Petal             lobe margin: Entire, undulate. Petal lobe texture and             luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte.             Petal lobe texture and luster, lower surface: Sparsely             pubescent; matte. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube             texture: Pubescent. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to NN155D and 77A. When opening, lower surface: Close             to 157D and N77C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             NN155D and brighter than 72A; venation, close to 71A; color             does not change with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to NN155D and 77B; venation, close to N79B;             color does not change with development. Flower throat             (inside): Close to N82D; venation, close to 79C. Flower tube             (outside): Close to N77D; venation, close to 197B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals fused in a             single star-shaped whorl. Calyx length: About 1.6 cm. Calyx             diameter: About 1.8 cm. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About             3 mm. Shape: Ligulate. Apex: Rounded. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Minute             pubescence; matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 146A. Fully developed, upper surface:             Close to N137A. Fully developed, lower surface: Close to             N137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Width: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Angle: About 45° to 55° from the stem             axis. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color: Close to             146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 1.5 cm. Filament color: Close to             145D. Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Round.             Anther color: Close to 92C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen             color: Close to 91A. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 2.3 cm. Style length: About 1.7 cm.             Style color: Close to 145C. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm.             Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 146A. Ovary             color: Close to 145B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development has not been             observed on plants of the new Petunia to date. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Petunia     plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and have been observed to tolerate     rain, wind and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘BBTUN91601’ as illustrated and described. 